(Lenexa, Kan., Dec. 6, 2013) - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be in St. Louis on Tuesday, Dec. 10 to award $29,623 to Trailnet of St. Louis as part of EPA’s competitive Environmental Justice Small Grants Program. Trailnet’s Neighborhood Greenways St. Louis project will encourage residents in the City of St. Louis to prevent and reduce pollution, help with watershed management, and reduce rates of obesity and asthma by advocating for safe and inviting spaces for walking and biking.

EPA’s Environmental Justice Grants enable community organizations to develop solutions to local health and environmental issues in low-income, minority and tribal communities overburdened by harmful pollution.

Trailnet advocates for creating neighborhoods where walking, biking and taking public transit is a way of life. Targeted neighborhoods include The Ville, Greater Ville, Jeff Vander Lou, and Carr Square just north of downtown; Forest Park Southeast in mid city; and Dutchtown in south St. Louis.

Trailnet helps municipalities design streets, sidewalks and trails where people can walk and bike safely to local destinations within and throughout their community. Neighborhood Greenways St. Louis will help implement the city’s Sustainability Plan.

The grant program supports activities designed to empower and educate communities to understand environmental and public health issues and to identify ways to address these issues at the local level. The long-term goals are to help build the capacity of communities with environmental justice concerns and to create self-sustaining, community-based partnerships that will continue to improve local environments in the future.